I’ve posted this before but I am tired of seeing things about me listed and am to busy at work to write anything new. So in honor of my niece starting kindergarten today, I’m tearing up just thinking about it, I’m lazy and posting it again

They stood in a perfect line mimicking every move I made. Their hats were pushed to the left with a sideways slant representing the slightest bit of style. I could tell it was going to be one of those days they color outside of the lines with a purpose.

“Very good now loosen up your shoulders and put a little bounce in your knees. You’ve got it. Now let’s start from the chorus - 1….2….3″

“If yah status ain’t hood
I ain’t checkin for yah
Betta be street if he lookin at me
I need a soldier!”

She walked into the room trying not to smile barely brushing my shoulder.

“Thank-you for teaching my kids hip hop. Kids get your shoes and say good-bye to Aunt Jess. We need to be on time for preschool.”

Cough Cough. Still feeling a little ill from my trip to Ohio did the clean air get me sick?

I’ve been tagged by Plantation, in all efforts to play nice here I go.

10 Years Ago Today
I was living in San Diego with out a care in the world

Five Years Ago Today
I was in a long term relationship with the Choker. We were living in sin; I was working for a dot com incubator in Houston.

1 Year Ago Today
I was working for the same company, in a smaller apartment, and had just met Ronda through F.

Yesterday
My father drove me to the airport in Cleveland. I had a beer in an airport bar and met an adorable couple on their way to Vegas and a glass of wine on plane with fresh out of college sorority tan girl (honey don’t you know tanning is bad for you and orange isn’t a skin tone). Putted around my apartment and finished reading Sammy’s Hill by Kristen Gore (Al’s daughter)

Tomorrow
I will be at the office in the morning forging ahead and making physicians sign on the dotted line in the afternoon. 10 mile run in the evening – it’s my escape.

5 Snacks I enjoy
I seem to have a very strange addiction to hummus and dip everything in hummus. Smoothies from Jamba Juice, Gummi bears, Pita Chips, Pretzels

5 Bands That I Know the Lyrics to Most of Their Songs:
Bowling for Soup, Offspring, Foo Fighters, Sublime, & Smash Mouth

5 Things I Would Do with a $100,000,000:
Buy my parents a beach house and put away money for their retirement, take my siblings and their families on a trip to Europe, Spend a month on the Greek Isles, Travel everywhere, Help the needy and do more volunteer work.

5 Locations I Would Like to Run Away to:
The Greek Isles, Ireland, Ibiza, Big Sur, & Belize

5 Bad Habits I Have:
Chocolate and Good n’ Plenty’s, picking at my nail polish, not returning phone calls or emails, talking to loud, & driving my car on empty

5 Things I Like Doing:
Enjoy a great glass of wine with a friend, watching the sun set, reading/writing, zoning out with IPOD and going for a long run, & attending sports events or concerts (Go EAGLES)

5 Things I would Never Wear –
Fuchsia anything, blue eyeliner, my catholic school uniform ever again, sequins, & animal print

5 TV Shows I Like(d):
Boston Legal, The Batchelor (forgive me), Alias, Will & Grace, & Frasier

5 Movies I Like
Amelie, Love Actually, The Lost Boys, Princess Bride, & Miss Congeniality

5 Famous People I would Like to Meet
I would have liked to have met Pope John Paul, Madeline Albright, Faith Hill, Robin Williams, & Harvey Keitel

5 Biggest Joys at the Moment:
Gummi Bears, Pictures from the weekend, my IPOD, an email from sister, & planning a cruise for the fall.

5 favorite toys:
My IPOD, Rubix Cube, Blackberry, My friends, and Jo my cat

People to Tag:
This is completely optional – but I will tag Shelley, Justin, Kiki, Sarah, Tim, Thomas, Wendi, Alison, Tiny Hands, Daniel Lisa, & Irf

“Maybe that’s all family really is, all the same people dreaming of an imaginary place.” Zach Braff said it in Garden State. I heard the line playing through my head as my father and uncle playfully teased one another over the fact that Money Magazine had rated Moorestown, New Jersey the best place to live and Naperville, Illinois #3 (my uncle lives there) Pissing contest . . . that’s only the beginning.

We’ve all been homesick for a place that doesn’t really exist. It’s a strategy, an idea, a feeling of home,and our imaginary world. Of starting and ending sentences with prepositions, home baked cookies and home made perogies with real sour cream. It’s real, unsensored, and littered with misspellings and tpyos. Some would cringe at the mention of a reunion. Your knee deep in relatives and questions; deeper than a canyon with no escape route.

Blood + Life = FAMILY.

After arriving in Ohio my brother said he would be waiting at the car rental, “You’ll see me when you walk outside I am in a SUV.” I saw him, or so I thought. I opened the back hatch, threw my luggage in the back, and climbed in the passenger seat. The strange man driving smiled and said, “Where are we going?”

My unprotective brother sat watching the entire thing. Ha Ha.

A family of practical jokers spread out like the Star of David. Boston, New Jersey, P.A., Florida, L.A., Manhattan, San Fran, S.D., Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Houston. It’s “awesome” to think that we are family and get along like champagne and strawberries. More than friends and deeper than soul – a baritone Barry White gliding through life with hugs and cheers. Promises were made for future visits, tales were told, and trips planned for time shares.

I miss them already but don’t miss the questions. I’d make a horrible celebrity. Until I see them again - they are all . . .fucking awesome

Ever had one of those days where you feel like a big piece of glass is sticking in your foot? The moment you are finally able to tear off your shoe and hold your foot under a light your boss walks in and asks, “What the hell are you doing?” You respond, “Trying to pull a microchip out of my foot.”
Somehow he doesn’t get your joke and you can’t locate the sharp substance that is tearing at a nerve. Even the slightest amount of pressure makes you want to scream.

I feel off balance like something is about to happen or something already did and I missed it. I cried in the car when I heard a Cyndi Lauper song this morning. A smarter woman would have turned off the radio. I’m not one to cry alone, in the park, or while watching television. It’s the sappy commercials that get me or when I can’t get a hold of my little sister.

I’ve never been a fan of American Idol, for crying out loud they sang Journey songs. But I am addicted to Rock Star INXS.

J.D. Rrrrrow! Jordis stole the show singing, “The Man Who Sold the World” Yeah, I cried during the performance.

I’ll answer your questions this afternoon Kiki trying to wrap things up here before going to Cleveland tomorrow. I still don’t fully understand why the reunion is in Ohio. We’re not from Ohio.

At 32 years old he never imagined the woman he was out with Friday night would be at the party he and his date were attending Saturday night. Understanding the complexity of the evening when he saw her walk through the door introductions and small talk were quickly made. Desperately he tried to lead his date to the bar but she was enjoying the banter making the escape impossible. A drop of sweat beaded down his brow landing on the rim of his glass as he thought to himself, “This can’t be happening. Hmmm the three of us? I wonder if they would go for that? She might but She won’t.” Knocked back into reality he realized he was stuck like a crossing guard standing between two speeding cars waiting for the wreck. “Hey! I want you to meet someone” He was saved by the emergence of a drunken friend who recognized the scenario and grabbed Date Girl leading her to the dance floor. Pausing he took a deep breath and shared a laugh with Friday night girl before returning to his date.

The Swingers mentality was choking him. In Houston, it’s quite common to run into an ex or the guy/lady you’re trying to avoid. The fourth largest city where everyone one seems to know everyone or knows their friends. It’s the Kevin Bacon Game with real people.

The party wound down and plans were made for the last bar to hit before calling it a night. He and Date Girl would head to a friends club and Friday Night Girl would venture out with friends. Relieved to say good-byes with promises of future phone calls he was anxious to leave the party and head to a lesser soap opera setting. Several drinks later he shut the door of the cab making Date Girl promise to text message when she made it home safe.

The following afternoon had been planned for a relaxing ladies spa day. Friday Night Girl and Date Girl were once again at the same event sharing more laughs and a glass of wine. Date Girl was shooed into the bathroom to remove a face mask and was told

“You know Ronda went out with F. Friday night.”

Trying to fight back the laughter as mask was wiped off my face I replied, “I noticed the change in his demeanor when she walked up. She seems like a lot of fun and has a great personality. “

“You’re not upset?’

“Not at all. I really like her and it’s not going another round with him. Best he and I keep it at friends. He apologized for not calling me after I got back from my trip and I told him not to worry about it because the phone works two ways. I swear I need a better filter.”

Several weeks later Ronda and I bar hopped to Copa Room when the consumption of alcohol gave her balls. She knew it needed to be addressed. As she laid her purse down on the bar she turned to look at me then turned away. I was preoccupied trying to flag down the cute bartender. I ordered our drinks and she let it fly.

R: “Do you know the night we met when you were with F. I had been out with him the previous night.”

J “I knew that night but it didn’t matter because you and I got along so well. If nothing else we have him to thank for the introduction.”

Here’s where the story ends and begins. He’s now in a long term relationship with a great gal and Ronda and I are the best of friends. So when Ronda called Saturday afternoon reminding me she leaves for filming in Germany Monday. The date was made as all other plans were quickly canceled. Freshly polished nails and feeling like a sunburned hairless cat. She coyly looked at me and said,

“You know what would help relive the pain from the waxing?” A low carb margarita from Café Adobe.”

5 Margaritas later and bellies full of fajitas we had watched the sun set over Houston as we discussed soul mates, business ideas, and the trips we are planning. It was the best Saturday night date I have had in a long time.